To feel less isolated a couple of years into Covid, Chloe White founded St. John’s NL’s FunkySwap in 2022, a cash-free market, where residents come together to trade clothes, art, and other items and services.
“It’s a mass swap,” Chloe says. “It’s a completely free event. We trade everything from furniture to house furnishings, plants, clothes, and food to haircuts and baked goods.”
FunkySwap, which had 400 attendees last year, allows residents to get items they need, while building stronger community connections.
“FunkySwap serves as an example that the community here shares a strong desire to… create a sustainable economy,” says Chloe.
While FunkySwap allowed Chloe to make new friends, she’s also hoping for a better quality of life for all in St. John’s.
Chloe is increasingly concerned about the changes over the past decade that have impacted the people and places she loves. Rising living costs, more extreme weather, and a no longer reliable oil and gas industry have all contributed to a sense of unease. Chloe’s story highlights how her generation is seeking change on these interconnected issues.
Chloe’s deep connection to NL fuels her concern over rising living costs and extreme weather, issues she believes threaten the place she calls home.
A Newfoundlander of the Best Kind
Chloe was born and raised in St. John’s and has lived there for all of her 25 years.
Her favourite thing about island life is enjoying the great outdoors through its distinct seasons.
“Every point of the year a hike will be different. Covered in snow at one point and then it’s a sunny, nice day and you can hop in a river to swim,” says Chloe.
Even driving just five minutes from the city opens up a range of wilderness opportunities.
“It’s such a beautiful place and being outside is one of the best things about life,” explains Chloe. “Newfoundland’s definitely home.”
Despite her deep connection to her home, getting by has become more and more of a struggle.
MAKING DO WITH WHAT YOU’VE GOT
Chloe has witnessed firsthand the mounting hardships brought on by the rising cost of living, with many of her friends losing their rentals. She says rents have increased by close to a thousand dollars for a shared space.
“Everything’s so freaking expensive. It’s a huge jump from four years ago. It’s very insecure, housing-wise. And people’s electricity and grocery bills are continuing to rise. When all your living essentials are going up—and your pay isn’t increasing—it’s worrying.”
Working hard at a farm market, Chloe is committed to healthy eating, but the rising cost of living means she often has to make difficult choices.
“It’s so much more expensive to live that you can’t always make those calls. A lot of choices come down to comfort. Sometimes I can’t keep the heat on as high in the winter, even though it’s freezing, because of my bill. I’ve gotta turn it down and throw a million blankets on.”
During St. John’s cold winter, Chloe holds onto the memories of FunkySwap and Delilah, the pup who stole the show, finding hope in the community and brighter days ahead.
When it Snows, it Really Snows
One of the biggest changes Chloe has noticed is the harsher weather, which has shifted significantly since she was a child. A pivotal moment for her came five years ago during the infamous Snowmageddon storm.
“We were all in a state of lockdown. That was one of the moments where I knew something bad was happening. Every year, we get more and more, snowstorm after snowstorm.”
Chloe also notes that summers are getting much hotter.
“There’s a lot more heat in Newfoundland. Some days we’ve had over 30-degree weather, which was unheard of. Normally summer would be a 20-degree day, and we’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re in Jamaica.’”
Her worries deepens as she considers the broader implications of carbon pollution.
“We’ll see it with our food, our housing. It’s not just the weather. It’s affecting everyone and everything. It’s only going to make things worse.”
Local residents ‘sell’ their wares at FunkySwap, offering Chloe a small solution in these challenging times.
Like Oil and Water
The challenges of rising costs and extreme weather are compounded by the decline of the oil and gas industry, which many in NL, including Chloe’s family, relied on for employment.
“Everyone knows someone who has worked in oil and gas. A lot of people I know went offshore, so they’d be out for three, four weeks, and then back for a week or two. It’s constant, pretty tiring work.”
But in the last 10 years, these jobs have become less secure.
“There have been so many layoffs over the past few years that it’s not that it is not a booming industry anymore. People are trying to move away from it, but there is still a pretty heavy dependence on it. Oil and gas is something that’s not sustainable, just like people’s jobs.”
Hoping for a Better Future
Chloe believes decision makers need to take more responsibility for the challenges facing NL residents, particularly around the transition from oil and gas to cleaner energy sources.
“I would like more government responsibility. To see more support for renewable energies and systems that could create more jobs for people.”
Chloe believes that if enough local residents come together for a better balance for people and nature, it’s possible to create good jobs for Newfoundlanders and tackle the root causes of carbon pollution, adding, “It would make me feel connected to a collective effort to build a province we can all be proud of.”
Chloe hopes local residents will feel inspired to tell their decision-makers how they feel about new oil and gas projects in beloved NL.
“If the government took meaningful action to address climate change and transitioned away from oil and gas in a timely manner, the future of Newfoundland could look transformative. Our rural communities could be revitalized through investments in sustainable tourism, agriculture, and technology.”
For now, Chloe will plan this year’s FunkySwap, holding onto hope for brighter days ahead.
“When I think about the future of Newfoundland and Labrador, what gives me hope is the immense potential of its people, natural resources, and innovative spirit.”
As Chloe plans for this summer’s FunkSwap, she knows hope comes from leaning on each other through tough times.
